Means for operating switch mechanisms.



R. A. SCHOENBERG. MEANS FOR OPERATING SWITCH MECHANISMS.

APPLlcATloN FILED F53, 9, M

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. A. SCHOENBERG. MEANS FOR OPERATING SWITCH MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED F5559. 1914- Patemea Aug. 10,1915.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

R. A. SCHQENBERG. MEANS FOR OPERATING SWITCH MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. |914. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

HUI [IIIIIH II UNITED ASTATES *VPAfrENfi OFFICE RALPH A. SCHOENBERG, 0F BRANCHPORT, JERSEY, .A'SSIGrNO'R TOlIA S. f ROSENHEIM, OF NEW YORK, NaY. f

- AppIcation ledFebruary 9,191.4. Serial No. 817,472.

To all whom. it may concern.:

Be it known that I, RALPH mouth and State of vNew Jersey, have invented new and useful Means for Operating Switch Mechanisms, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for operating switch mechanisms and vparticularly when suoli mechanisms are placed in sockets or other receptacles especially when adapted for carrying electric light lamps or attachment plugs.

In t-lie case of sockets or other ieceptacles it is highly desirable todo away with the unsightliness caused by protruding actua'- tors, such as keys, chains and push-buttons. These actuators are a distinct drawback asa rotary lamp, however, hasy many'objections and the main object ofmy invention is to do away withsuch protruding actuators and also to eliminate the rotation ofthe sup porting member for zthe lamp,` attachment plug or other device. v

My invention consists mainly in providing means at the end'of the receptac e moving longitudinally to actuate the switch mecha# nism and this longitudinal movement is in ai direction substantially parallel to the. wall of the socket or other receptacle no matter in what direction the lamp or other device may point, that is, whetheriit'is vferticalor horizontal or atan angle with the horizontal. A feature of my invention consists in pro. viding a quick make and quick'break brid-g ing member moving longitudinally.-

Another feature ofl my invention is that in the case of lamps I` avoid the necessity of ya. protracted grasp ofthe lamp with the'convsequent likelihood of burning the hand as is the case with a rotary lamp for operating the` switch.

Another feature of my invention is that I Specification of Letters Patent.A

A. Sonoma-v BERG, of Branchport, in the county of Mon-f` MEANS Fon OPERATING' SWITCH. MncHAnisi/is.

v Patented Ang. 1o, i915.

avoid all `arcin-g which will be present in turned .in the reverse direction, this likelithe case of a rotary lamp whenptlie latter is hood ofarcing-being present especially in high wattage lamps.

Another' feature is that 'an attachment plug can be placed in the socket and operated by. a pull on a cord attached to the plug where the plug is not within reach orwhere a quick method of'breaking'the-currentisV desired.

A further advantageis that" there is-fno likelihood of'breaking the'lainp as might be the case if a rotary lamp were used-for the reason thatthereare now many standard keyless sockets now in' use and the operator wouldy try to rotate the lampnot knowing whether the device were operable by rotation ofthe lamp or `not `and if itwere not the lamp would undoubtedly break in the hand of the user;

A further Ifeature of my invention is thatv in case the lamp or other device vis out of con# 'i venient reach a chain or' other member attached tov the supporting member may be used to move the supporting member and this could not be done with a. rotary lamp.

In one embodiment of my invention whichl I. disclose herein,fthis being for some vpurl.poses the preferred form, I provide a socket which carries switchmechanism and mov ably mounted on the socket is a lamp support carrying alamp, longitudinal movement of the lampsupport acting to make andvhreak a circuit through theswitch to' light they lamp or extinguish the light and a.

special feature of the preferred'forrn is that movement of the lamp to operate the switch is always toward the socket, that is, pushing the unlighted ylamp will light it'and'pushing the lighted lamp will extinguish thelight.

Other features of my invention will he pointed routbelow.

In the accompanying drawings: Figurei'l.A l is a central longitudinal sectional View ofA a deviceembodying the preferred form of'my invention; Fig. '2 is a section on line. Q-Q-of Fig. l; Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the switch mechanism forming'y part of the device vshown in Fig. l; Figfis a central longitudinally sectional View of another form' of the invention; Fig. 6 is a similar view of a third form of the invention; Fig.l 7 is a view llike Fig. /6 but showing-the parts in di'erent positions; Fig.- 8 isan Yelevation of the two'porcelain blocks of the device'shown in Fig. 7 showin the parts mounted on said blocks; Fig. 9 1s an elevation' of the stationary porcelain block. hereinafter described; Fig; 10 is a plan view of a porcelain block shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11'of Fig. 7 Fig. 12 isa section on line 12-12 of Fig. 7; Fig. 13 isanelevation I of the inner face of one of the'two counterpart porcelainblock sections which form the porcelain block shown in Fig. 9 ;A Fig'. 14

shows lthedevice of Fig. 1 coupled toan attachment plug.; Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a device .embodyingy a fourth formv of my invention; Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Fig.v 15; Fig.. 17- is" a section ony line 17-17 of Fig.15; Fig. 18 is a section on line 18-18 of Fig. 15; Fig.

19 is a .detail showing part of the-switch" mechanism ofthe device of Fig. 15; Fig. 2O

.shows my device used as a lamp'socketand provided with acord attachment, through .which the lamp is manipulated toioperate the switch of the device; Fig. 21 isa .plan

Fig. 6; Fig. 23 shows another modification.

Having reference.particularly vto Figs.`1 to `4 inclusive, 1 represents. a porcelain block formed with a central vertical hole 2 which at its lower end con-nects with a recess' Vpro-.-

vided at thelower end of block 1. v"' ZVithin the hole 2 is a. bushing 4 provided at'itsf` lower end with .a flange or head andh'aving its upper end threaded to receiverupon'f ita nut-5by means of which the-bus yngiss'ecurely held within-the block w1?.,"if 1 totatably'.

mounted upon the lower end offbushing 4is a movable contact 6, Fig.14,l provided with downwardly projectingratchet teeth-,7 vto cooperate' with upwardly projecting ratchet teeth l8 provided on a disk 9 mounted upon a screw stem 10.v Disk 9 is made upon 'its inner" periphery with alug 11` occupying'a spiralI groove 12provided on the eXteriorjof-stem' 10, and is yieldingly held against'movable contact member 6 by. a spring 13,;f`Stem 10 near its lower end is provided :witha head providedwith -two diametricallyl opposite wings 19 and 20 which coperate witha sta-l ff nuancer..

'tionary contact member' 21 fastened to the porcelain lblock 1 and adapted to be con- 'nected through binding -post 24 with one of the line wires' 25 of the circuit. The other line wire 26 of the circuit is connected with a binding post 27 which is electrically connected with a spring contact linger 22 mounted on porcelain block 1 and engaging a. metal contactmernber 23 fastened by means of one of the bolts 17 to the movable lporcelain block 16. The bolt 17 which holds contact member" 23 in place electrically connects the contact'member'with the threaded shell 18. kWhen the circuit is closed through my improved switch device it extends from one linewireto the stationary contact 21 thence through the movable contact member 6 to stem. 10 which leads to the center contact 15.' From the center contact 15 the circuit passes through the lamp or other instrument connected with the shell 18, back to said shell and thence through bolt17 to contact member 23 from whence it passes 'through Contact nger 22 which isfcoim'ected -with .the other line wire. By referring to Fig. 1 it 'will be yseenqthat'the contact-member 6 is electrically connected with stem'lO noty only through the bushing 4 but also` through the toothed washer 9 which amply provides for .the passage of the current. The exterior of the stem 10 is made with a longitudinal key-wayjl- 28 .into which projects a lug 2,9.' from sleeve 4 which serves by its f engagement with'said key-way tolock said stemaga-in'st rotating within said sleeve; the

- sleevebeingrigidly 'clamped against rotatingby meansofi'the nut- 5. The wingsi19 and20 ofkrrfnovable contact-member 6 also y copera'te with a pair of spring jaws 30 and lsecured'to block 1' inthe path of said wings andlocated 'ninety degrees away from the stationary contact 21. These 'stirring jawsj30'and 31 form no part of the circuit.. `When the screw shell 18, block 16 and stem 10- areushovedfupwardly the spiral groove 12 acts uponlug 11 to rotate disk 9 whose teeth' 'engaging with the'teeth on contact member 6 act tomove sai-d contact member .with said stem: The limit' of inward movement of screw shell 18, block 16'and` stem 1() isartent of ninetyfdegrees. Ifatthe start of thisinwardmovem nt of the screw shell 18 21'into -afpositionbfetween the two spring 'jaws' 3() yand .lwhichjsferve by frictional engagement withsaid wingl to 'hold the contact member 6, against returning, or reverse 115 ranged so that when'block 16 is brought up vagainst block 1 the spiral groove 12 has r o g tated disk 9 and contact member 6 tothe eX `-14 and has its extremity threadedtorec'eive upon it an interiorly threadedv center con-` tact 15- by means 'ofwhich the" lower endv of the stemis rigidly fastened to a .movable porcelain block 1,6. .To the underside of the] movable porcelain block 16 is securedbyf means of bolt 17 a screw threaded jshelllfv adapted to receive the block of an electric f" lamp, attachment plug'or other electricfirc,y Y' ture or appliance. The contact member 6 is'.

.i bulb 32 of the lamp. The pressure on the lamp forces the screw shell 18 and-parts carried thereby inwardv and shifts. contact 15 ing one of its wings intoV engagement wlthmember 6 ninety degrees as described carry- 4the stationary contact -21 and thereby clos'- ing the circuit through the filament 33 of the lamp. When it is desired to extinguishA the light thel bulb 32 is again pressed upon which L results in contact member .6 being- A moved again to the extent of ninety degrees carrying said wing youtofengagement with the stationary contact 21 and opening the circuit of the lamp.

ff In the form ofFig. `l it may be preferable to use a lamp having va considerable neck scribed' provides a keyless switch use with a lamp 'but if it is ydesired to use the form of lamp in which the bulb -are's'directly from the threaded metal portion I lmay flare the insulating vlining 34 and the shell 35-attheir lower edges to accommodate the shapelof the last mentioned type'of lamp.`

As will be observed the construction deor attachment plug or other electricfixture or device.

. bolt serving also of theline wlres In the form of my invention shown in Fig; 5 the screw shell 18I is secured to the underside of a porcelain block 16L providedwith a center contact .15 screwed onto the lower threaded extremity of a post 10n which is thus rigidly connected with said porcelain block by the center contact.- The post -10a extends upwardly through the porcelain block 1E which for construction reasons may be made in two pieces fastened together by screws 37. Near its upper end post 10. is

made with a beveled enlargement 38 coperland 18 vin `Fig.;l 1", constitute'the supporting ating with a pair of springsl 39 pocketed Within recesses 40 within the block 1". Thev post 10 carries a spring contact 41 which co-v operates with a contact 42 fastened by means of a bolt 43 to the porcelain block 1, said as the binding post for; one

is connected with a binding post 46 forming part of a fixedy Contact member mounted.-

" th'ruglrthe lamp.r

@In bothfo'rms of within block 1a. The low'ellfndfof contact member 47 extendsfbelow block 1 and into` a notch-48ffor' ed 'porcelain block 16a Whereit-i's .providedwith an enlargement or head 4911 The Qheadv'4Q-'Q-- operates with a pair of springjawsi-oricon-'T tacts 50 riveted or otherwise secured tojanddevice for in electrical contact with the screw threaded shell 18; Normallythe porcelain block 16 `will occupy '.the position shown in' Fig. 5 with the contacts 41 and 42 separated and f thev contacts '47 and-50 separated, said block 70 "being held in this position by the engagement of. the springs 39 with the undersidel of the; beveled 'enlargement 38'. Vhen it is desired tof close the circuit through this I switch device theflamp, attachment plug or oth'ervdevice'connected'with the screw shell 18,*is pulled downwardly until the largest part o fffth'e .beveled enlargement 38 passes the y'an'guiar. portions of the springs 39 where- 'jupon' saidfsp'rings act upon the upper beveledside of the'enlargement 38 to accelerate the downward 'movement of post 10 and partsfconne'cted therewith, thus producing a '.quickmake between contacts 41 and 42 and-contacts 47 andv50 and this by a longitudinalv movement ofthe bridging member. .When post 10afvis thus forced downwardly by the springs 39 the shoulder 51 immedi- 4 -ately underthe enlargement 38 engages the bottomf52'of recess40 which serves as a stop to limit thevv 10a.- lVheni.` of the -laifnpgA attachmen connectediwith the 'v-nward movement of post desired to open the circuit' ew shell '18, said de- Vfly carrying with it the o l'fjly and post 10a. As he enlargement passes the `springs 39 the latscrew shell i1 the largest the angular.' en

soA

t plugorother device f 4ter act -upnthelowerbeveled sidejof said enlargementtoiaccelerate the upward movement of post 10?* ,anlparts connected therewith thereby p rloducingfaquick break at the contacts 41gand2'42: and contacts 47 and l 50. hen'the fpostlOa'occupies either of its two positionsit is yieldingly held there 'by theV engagement ofthe vrsprings 39 with the beveled enlargement ,38.V As will be observed in this second'form` of my invention the screwfshell 18 maybe shifted from closed 'position 'to open position orvice versa and when so shifted thesprings 39- serve to hold .it -against--,,return movement.' In this form `'ofrny invention the porcelain block 16a and screw shell 18,1ike correspondingvparts 16 -member for, the supported member which v 'ivnav bealamp, attachment plug or other de- `to extinguish theli'ght or open the circuit vhefdescribed@the.insulating lining 34' and 'shell'. 35-are' without perforationsv 'for laterally projecting act -Igiven,"namely, that I dounot use laterally iators for the reason just projecting actuators which require perforation of the insulating lining and of the outer shell.

Inthe form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive the stationary porcelain block is made up of twocounterpart pieces of porcelain 1, Fig. 13, and is provided with a contact finger 22 like the contact 22 of Fig. 1, which coperates with'a s )rin contact iin er 23 like the s rino' conl g g p :a

tact finger 23 of Fig. 1. The two pieces of porcelain 1b which make up thestationary porcelain block vare provided upon their inner faces with registering recesses 40- within which the springs 39 are pocketed. Also in 'this form of my invention the movable porcelain block 16 has'V the screw shell 18 fastened to it by means of`bolts 17v and the center contact 15 is screwed onto the lower end of a post 10b so'as to fasten said post totsaid block as in Fig. 1. The two pieces of porcelain 1b are made upon their .inner faces with registering recesses 53- which pocket and support a metal contact ring 51 that is' provided with two `downwardly extendingy HeXible contact fingers 55 coperating with an= enlargement 6 provided on the post 10". The contact ring 54' is made with an extension 56 that is fastened to the porcelain block 1P by means of a bolt 57 which serves also to hold the two'parts of the porcelain block together and has a binding post for a line wire 58. The other line wire 59 is connected with another binding post boltv 60 whichfastens the contact' quick make and quick break between the enlargement 6 and contact fingers 55 by an endwise or longitudinalmovenient of the post 10b and screw shell 18.

In the form of mypinvention shown in Figs. 15 to 19 inclusive 1 indicates the stationary porcelain block, 16b the movable porcelain block, 18 the screw shell, 34 the lining of insulating material inclosing said parts, 35 the metal shell surrounding the lining 34, 36 the cap of shell 35 and 25 and 26 the line wires. The stationary prcelain block 1 is made with a recess 61 within which is arranged a ratchet wheel 62 provided uponone face with a series of studs -63 coperating with a spring pawl '64 fastened by a screw 65 to the movable por celain block 16". The porcelain block 16b is said ratchet wheel.

moved toward and from the stationary porcelain block 1 to open and close the circuit as before and as the spring pawl 64 moves with it it acts to rotate ratchet wheel 62 step by step. The ratchet wheel62 is made with four laterally projecting lugs 66 adapted by the rotation of said wheel to be brought successively into engagement with a stationary contact 67 fastened by a screw 68 to the stationary porcelain block 1. The contact 67 is made with a downwardly extending finger 69 whichis in permanent engagement with a Contact finger 70 riveted or otherwise secured to the screw shell 18. A spring detent 71 bears against ratchet wheel 62 and coperates with the studs 63 to prevent reverse movement of said ratchet wheel on the .down strokes of pawl 64. This detent 71 is fastened to the stationary porcelain block 1c by means of a screw 72 which servesalso as a binding post with which the line wire 25 is connected.' Detent 71 not only'prevents reverse movement of ratchet wheel 62 but` also serves as an electric connection between binding post screw 72 and The studs 63 are provided and arranged so that each upward 4movement of pawl 61 rotates ratchet wheel 62 4a distance equal `to the angular distance between two of the studs so that every other up stroke of pawl 64 shifts one of the lugs 66 into engagement with contact 67 while the alternate up strokes of the pawl 64 disconnect ratchet wheel 62 and contact 67. The center contact 15 is made with a threaded hole to receive the lower threaded extremity of a post 10 provided at its upper Aend with a. head 73 beneath which is .ar-

ranged a spring 74, said .spring serving to normally hold the block 16b against the porcelain block 1.. On its under side the porcelain block 1c is made with a recess7 5 within which is 4arranged a contact 76 that is fastened to the porcelain block 1 by means of a screw 77. The screw 77 serves` as a `binding'postto which theother line wire 26 is connected, and the contact 75 is in perving plug to the heater or other instrument.

When the circuit through the heater. or other instrument connected with the wires 80 and 81 `is open and it is desired to close the same the operator may accomplish this merely by pulling upon said wires and then releasing them. The pull upon the 4wires draws the connecting plug 79, screw shell 18, porcelain block 16b and post 10C outwardly against the pressure of spring 74 which latter returns said parts to their innermost positions whenthe pull upon wires 80 and 81 is relaxed. Pawl 64 moves with the porcelain block 16b and through its engagement with the ratchet wheel 62 turns the latter one step carrying one of the lugs 66 into engagement with the contact 67 thereby closing the circuit through the heater or other instrument. When it is desired to open the circuit through the heater or other instrument the operator will again pull upon the wires 80 and 81 which results in another in and out movement of the connecting plug 79 and parts connected therewith. lV-hen block 16" is thus moved with the connecting plug' 79 its pawl 64 again moves ratchet wheel 62 one step carrying the lug 66 resting against contact 67 away from and out of engagement with the latter thus opening the-circuit through the heater or other instrument. It will thus be seen that with this form ofmy invention an important advantage residesgin 'the construction which permits -ofits being operated from a distant point to open and close the circuit through thevmedium of the wires 80 and 81.

lVhen my improved switch device is used to hold a lamp and is to be placed in an elel vated position where it cannot be conveniently reached I may provide an attachment 911 shown in Fig. 20 consisting of an annular flexible strap 95a whose ends are fastened together by means of a screw 82 so that the strap is confined between two shoulders 83 and 84 that are provided upon the exterior of shell 35. This strap 95a is made with a depending arm 85 extending downwardly alongside of the lamp bulb 32l and at the lower end of this arm there is provided aI bell-shaped cord guiding aperture 86. One end of a cord 87 is tied around the shank of4 the bulb 32 and said cord eX- tends therefrom downwardly throughthe guide 86 with its lower end arranged in a convenientposition. This attachment is applicable to the switch device shown in Fig. 15. i

When my improved switch device is used to hold aA lamp and is arranged in a more or less elevated position with the lamp uppermost as shown in Fig. 22 l prefer to provide the lamp with the attachment shown in Figs. 21 and 22. This attachment comprises two metal strips one of which 88 is bent near its middle to tend half way around the shank of the bulb 32 with the ends 90 of said part bent upwardly and outwardly and having their eX- tremities hooked as at 91. The other part of this attachment comprises a metal strip 92 bent-to form a loop to extend around the form a loop 89 adapted to eX other half of the bulb and having its extremities fastened to the part 88 by means of two screws 93. This form of attachment may be used with any one of the switch devices herein shown and by grasping either or both of the arms 90 the operator may conveniently move the lamp to operate the switch device.

The stationary porcelain block 1c ofFig. 15 is made at 'its lower end with two diametrically opposite lugs 91 occupying two notches 95 provided in the movable porcelain block 16. These lugs and sockets connect the two porcelain blocks so that they can be moved relatively toward and from each other but are held against relative rotative movement.

In FiO'. 23 I have shown my invention embodied in a switch connector or union adapted to be used for instance, to connect an ordinarylalnp or cord plug with an ordinary socket. This form of my invention comprises a screw shell 18 secured to a movable porcelain block 16 carrying a spring contact -the threaded end of the shank of another center contact 97. The stem 10b is, like the stem 10b of Fig. 6, made with an enlargement 38 cooperating with a pair ofk springs '39 pocketed within a stationary porcelain body 97a. At its lower,- end the body 97a is made with a skirt 98 inclosing screw shell 18, and at its upper end with a plug 99 upon the outsidek of which isarranged a second screw shell 100. This screw shell 100 is held in place on plug 99 by lugs 101 which are bent inwardly into recesses 102, and carries the contact 22b which may be integral therewith or soldered thereto. The porcelain body 97a may be made in two counterpart sections fastened together by bolts 103. The shell 100 and center contact 97 constitute engaging means provided upon this form to attach to the terminals in the mouth of an ordinary socket.

anism with longitudinally moving means for operating the same and engaging means to attach to the terminals in the mouth ot another socket as I intend to make those features the subject of another application or applications.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the character described comprising switch mechanism including an immovable contact and a contact movable into and out ot engagement with said im- 'movable contact; a support movable longitudinally to operate the switch mechanism. and an electrical appliance carried by the support and having a terminal in circuit with said switch mechanism` 2. A switching device comprising a receptacle; switch mechanism carried by the receptacle; and a support mounted on the receptacle and movable longitudinally and in wardly both to make and break the circuit through said switch mechanism and being in circuit with said switch mechanism; and automatic means to return said support to its outermost position after each operation.

3. A device of the character described comprising a socket; switch mechanism mounted in said socket; a. lamp having terminals electrically connected to said switch mechanism;a supporting member carrying said lamp and mounted on said socket and movable inwardly to operate said mechanism to make the circuit and light said lamp and also movable inwardly to operate said mechanism to break the circuit and extinguish the light in said lamp; and automatic means to move said member to its outermost position after each operation.

4. A device of the character described comprising a socket; a body of insulating material mounted in said socket; switch mechanism on said body including a contact; a. rotary member having wings to engage said contact and having projecting teeth;- another rotary member having projecting teeth to engage the teeth on the winged member and having also a central bore with an internally projecting lug; and

a supporting member movable longitudinallj1 and having a stem with a spiral groove` said groove engaging said internally projecting lug to rotate the toothed members and thereby operate the switch; and means to prevent rotation of the supporting member.

A switching device comprising switch mechanism: and a supporting member movable longitudinally and inwardly both to make and break the circuit through said switch mechanism and having a portion in circuit with said switch mechanism; and automatic means to return said member to its outermost position after each operation.

G. A device of the character described comprising a socket; switch mechanism including an immovable contact and a movable contact; a lamp having terminals in circuit with said switch mechanism and a rigid support tor said lamp movable longitudinally by the` user to move said movable contact into and out of engagement with said immovable contact.

7. An electric light socket comprising switch mechanism; a lamp having a terminal in circuit with said switch mechanism; and a support for said' lamp movable longitudinally and inwardly to make and also to break the circuit; and automatic means to return the support to its outermost position after each operation.

8. An electric light socket comprising switch mechanism includingian immovable contact and a Contact movable into and out of engagement with said immovable contact; a support movable longitudinally to operate the switch mechanism and having a terminal in circuit with said switch mechanism; and a lamp carried by said support and having a terminal in contact with the terminal of said support.

RALPH A. SGHOENBERG.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. RociiwELL, GEORGE N. GODDARD. 

